The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-12-10
A Bright Schemer.

A professional real estate boomer"
while riding on horseback through
the pine woods of Arkansaw, came
upon ar-looking fellow sitting
under tree, deeply interested in
sort of diagram, which, with short
stick, he was drawing in the sand.
"How are you ?" said the boomer,
dismounting.
"Ain't complainin'," the fellow re-
piled, contemplating fresh mark
which he made in the sand.
"You seem to be laying off town
there"
mo, 1 amt a doin' that, nuther."
"Must be some sort of land scheme
you've got on hand"
"No. it amt that, nUther."
81 was in hopes so. You see my
business"
mo, l didn't see yore bizness,
nuther."
"Wait minute. / say my busi-
ness is to 60 into neighborhood and
Immediately bring up the value of
land by stimulating spirit of specu-
IatiOn. Say. for instance, that you've
got one hundred acres that you'd like
to sell but tor which you have not
found market. | see you serectly
and enter into an arrangement with
you. Shortly afterwards L meet you
at the crossroads where you are sit
ting with a number OF fellows. |
meet you as if for the first time, fall
into conversation, gradually come
down to land matters and after
awhile ask you who owns a certain
tract. You do. | would like to buy
it. You regard the matter carelessly,
just as observe you are admirably
fitted to do, and, without giving me
any satisfaction, get up aud go off.
Then | take out sort of map and
after looking over it for sometime.
humble something about a new rail.
road, as if | don't care about any
body hearing me, and after showing
considerable anxiety concerning you,
ask where you have gone. and start
out to look for you. l fail to find
you and come back TO the place where
the fellows are sitting. Finally | ex-
plain all about the new railroad, and
speak of you as most fortunate fell
low, for the new depot is going to be
located on your land. | start out to
look for you again, and while | am
gone you come back. By this time
those fellows have formed sort of
syndicate TO cheat you out of your
place. The leader begins to ask about
your land, all the time keeping a
sharp lookout to see if [ am coming
back, and the first thing you know
you've sold your place for ten times
as much AS ii is worth. After that,
of course, you give me certain per
cent Of the money. See"
The diagram-maker sprang to his
feet, knocked the boomer down and
kicked him; and then, as he was
trying to get up, knocked him sense
less. When the boomer came to, he
raised up and said:
"WilI you let me go now ?"
The peculiar-looking fellow glanced
up from the diagram, upon which he
had resumed work, and replied;
"Reck0n you'd better"
The boomer got up, and after brush
ing the sand off his clothes. said:
Would you mind telling stran.
ger who is unacquainted with the
social customs of the community.
why you thumped me around that
way?n
No, wouldn't mind. You see, "a
feiler with the same game come
through here about month ago, am
| was one of the fools that was roped
into buyin' old sedge field that ain't
wuth ten CENTS"
"Thank you for your information.
1 do not want to be inquisitive, but
will you tell me what sort of map
that is you are working on so in
tentIy ?'
II am tryin' to see eff / ken make
a map showin' how railroad ken
git round IA cypress swamp, over a
bayou, over "A sand mountain through
another swamp and then git to the
old field that a possu of us fellers
bought. Stranger, | reckon you'd
better mosey along. nOW.-ArkdnSaU
Traveller.
Man-"My gracious Well be
late. Get your things on"